Barbara Austin Lucas is an itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1974 she was selected as the first participant in the Teachers-in-Partnership Program sponsored by the A.M.E. denomination and assigned to Monrovia Liberia, West Africa as an Educational Missionary. In 1983, she was a co-leader of a Mission Tour and Educational Development Workshops in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In l995 she led an Educational Missionary Development group to Ghana and the Cote D'ivoire, West Africa. She has traveled numerous times to the Caribbean preaching and teaching.

Reverend Barbara has served on the ministerial staffs of Agape A.M.E. Church in Buffalo, New York and Bridge Street A.M.E. Church in Brooklyn, New York. She ministered in the positions of Assistant Pastor at Bridge Street A.M.E. Church from 1986 to 1996. The Rev. Dr. Barbara has been a member of the faculty of New York Theological Seminary since 1992. She assumed the position of Associate Dean and Professor of Religious Education and Ministry Studies in July 1993. Dr. Lucas has served as a lecturer at Union Theological Seminary in New York City since 1988. She has worked as a consultant on various projects with Auburn Theological Seminary, New York City since 1990. Dr. Lucas has lectured at many schools, colleges and theological educational institutions.

Reverend Barbara organized the Sisters Sharing Convocation in Buffalo, New York at the Buffalo Hilton Hotel where 500 Women assembled to discuss issues relevant to the Black Community. Rev. Lucas has been recognized for her commitment by being named a recipient of the Outstanding Young Women of America Award, the Sister Sharing Aware in Buffalo, New York, the Church Woman of the Year Award by the Key Women of America, Brooklyn Branch and being featured in the Long Island Historical Society's Salute of Black Women in Brooklyn. She was honored by the New York Women's Foundation at its Annual Breakfast for her work with WOMB (Women Organizing, Mobilizing & Building). In April of 1999, Rev. Barbara was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars Hall of Fame. She has been the founding Pastor of Agape Tabernacle International Fellowship since January 1998. Rev. Lucas' organizational affiliations include Church Women United, N.A.A.C.P. and founder President of WOMB.